Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) president, Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo has appealed to the North West District Council (NWDC) leadership to speak with one voice in order to transform the district.

He urged them to put their political affiliations aside and revise their plan to provide an effective leadership for the benefit of the district.

Rev. Moruakgomo made the remarks when responding to comments raised by some councillors during the BALA North West District Council branch conference held at Botswana Open University in Maun on Monday.

Some councillors had complained that they were unable to work as a unit due to party affiliations in council structures.

They said most council committees were led by councillors from the ruling party despite

the fact that some opposition councillors had skills which they could utilise to move the council forward.

Rev. Moruakgomo urged councillors to understand that they were civic leaders, hence they needed to work as a unit to take the council to greater heights.

He urged both the political wing and council staff to engage each other and create a smooth working relationship for the betterment of communities they served.

He said some councils had moved on because they appreciated the skills councillors had and included those with the requisite skills into committees.

The BALA president appealed to the district leadership to revisit the issue and ensure balance for the benefit of the community.

Rev. Moruakgomo also advised councillors to take advantage of the initiatives the association offered and to ensure its impact was felt, adding that the association was formed as a vehicle to drive

the promotion of unity, solidarity and cooperation among local authorities.

He emphasised the need for the leadership to drive sustainable development goals and Vision 2036, saying their aim was to change the economic landscape of the country.

He also explained that BALA’s primary reason for existence was to enhance service delivery and to promote good governance.

Rev. Moruakgomo encouraged members to be responsive to new and emerging development challenges that people faced in various communities in order for the association to remain relevant.

The association, he said, focused on five pillars of people, prosperity, planet, partnership and peace, and stressed that in order to achieve the agenda, no one should be left behind.

The district leadership was urged to grow the local economy by creating opportunities for everybody.

Rev. Moruakgomo said the leadership should be seen in the forefront, mobilising and activating people to take action and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of the country.

He argued that all stakeholders should be taken on board and work with the leadership to make things happen, adding that leaders should attend all meetings, hear people’s concerns and act accordingly.

The leadership, he said, should not be seen complaining all the time, but should rather should have direction and progress as far as developments were concerned.

At BALA, the president said they provided a platform to discuss issues and advise each other on how best they could implement policies in place.

He said gone were the days when councillors would be seen all the time assisting their electorates with funerals.

He urged the local authority to diligently execute its plans to end absolute poverty in their area as

per the new development agenda which was premised on fighting poverty.

For his part, NWDC chairperson, Mr Duncan Enga hailed the branch for organising the conference, noting that it would give members an opportunity to appreciate the mandate of the association and its services.

He said the association was a development in the right direction, and said he wished they could come up with a catalyst to speed up the processes.

Mr Enga also said he wished the association could take stock and introspect to see if all members were together in the journey.

He stressed the need for the executive to make the association visible and make government appreciate its importance.

He said some ministers feared that the association was intended to usurp their powers while in actual fact, the association was there to augment some shortfalls within the processes. ENDS